Apparatus for drawing a wire tie through and around annular articles and twisting the ends together



S. C. FONS ET AL ct. T3 1953 APPARATUS FOR DRAWING A WIRE TIE THROUGH AND AROUND ANNULAR ARTICLES AND TWISTING THE ENDS TOGETHER Filed. Aug. 10, 1950 l5 Sheets-$heet l a 5 m W 52 0 mi 4 4 f E .K ww pb Z mm 1cm 5 .N, MW zmw m w mmm 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 oooooo. ooooooooooooooooo 0000000 00000000 0000000 00000000 ooooooooooooooo s. c. FONS ET AL APPARATUS FOR DRAWING A WIRE TIE THROUGH AND AROUND ANNULAR ARTICLES AND TWISTING THE ENDs TOGETHER Filed Aug. 10, 1950 Oct. 13, 1953 E u o o o o o ov C l Q Q mm L n n ur ll |||h|h|||| I. 13 1953 s. c. FONS ET AL 2 1 APPARATUS FOR DRAWING A wIRE TIE THROUGH AND AROUND ANNULAR ARTICLES AND TWISTING THE ENDs TOGETHER Filed Aug. 10, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet 3 WWW/I; 5/1 as C Fan/s.

Oct. 13, 1953 s. c. FONS ET AL 2,655,U97

APPARATUS FOR DRAWING A WIRE TIE THROUGH AND AROUND ANNULAR ARTICLES AND TWISTING THE ENDS TOGETHER Filed Aug. 10, 1950 l5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 13, 1953 s c N ET AL 2,655,097

APPARATUS FOR DRAWING A WIRE TIE THROUGH AND AROUND ANNULAR ARTICLES AND TWISTING THE ENDS TOGETHER Filed Aug. 10, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 mama- @M 13, 19535 s Q FONS ET AL 2,655,097

APPARATUS FOR DRAWING A WIRE TIE THROUGH AND AROUND ANNULAR ARTICLES AND TWISTING THE ENDS TOGETHER Filed Aug. 10, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 UQQ m i I I! V 4, .G R HUM N K H R R R Q: R O QR R R NW A. Q m m ME 2 R 0 \R I R s F- w A Oct. 13, 1953 s c. FONS ET AL 2,655,097

APPARATUS FOR DRAWING A WIRE TIE THROUGH AND AROUND ANNULAR ARTICLES AND TWISTING THE ENDS TOGETHER Filed Aug. 10, 1950 l5 Sheets-Sheet 7 (Jet. 13, 1953 s c FONS ET AL 2,655,097

APPARATUS FOR DRAWING A WIRE TIE THROUGH AND AROUND ANNULAR ARTICLES AND TWISTING THE ENDS TOGETHER Filed Aug. 10, 1950 l5 Sheets-Sheet 8 F T B FEB. 16..

1 gi 50f! Z56 5 4i Q M95 W kw A A @W@&Am%

@Ct. 13, 1953 s Q FONS ET AL 2,655,097

APPARATUS FOR DRAWING A WIRE TIE THROUGH AND AROUND ANNULAR ARTICLES AND TWISTING THE ENDS TOGETHER Filed Aug. 10, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet 9 flaw dams: 574.45 C FDA/5. Jim/v 1620mm. Dmwsm;

Oct. 13, 1953 5 c NS ET 2,655,097

APPARATUS FOR DRAWING A WIRE TIE ROUGH AND AROUND ANNULAR ARTICLES AND TWISTING THE ENDS TOGETHER Filed Aug. 10, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet 1 /W D l 0 w Z2 a W Inventors: J/ms Tim 5.

Oct. 13, 1953 C. FONS APPARATUS FOR DRAWING A WIRE TIE ET AL THROUGH AND AROUND ANNULAR ARTICLES AND TWISTING THE ENDS TOGETHER Filed Aug. 10, 1950 l5 Sheets-Sheet ll 65 57 FEEL Oct. 13, 1953 s. c. FONS ET AL 296559097 APPARATUS FOR DRAWING A wIRE TIE THROUGH AND AROUND ANNULAR ARTICLES AND TWISTING THE ENDs TOGETHER 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed Aug. 10,

FIEISE]- 13, 1953 s Q N ET AL 2,655,07

- APPARATUS FOR DRAWING A WIRE TIE THROUGH AND AROUND ANNULAR ARTICLES AND TWISTING THE ENDS TOGETHER 15 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 10. 1950 Oct. 13, 1953 s Q o s ET AL 2,655,97

APPARATUS FOR DRAWING A WIRE TIE THROUGH AND AROUND ANNULAR ARTICLES AND TWISTING THE ENDS TOGETHER Filed Aug. 10, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet 14 FIEJ34- H II FIEJZIE- I Y miwm Oct. 13, 1953 s c. FONS ET AL, 2,655,097

APPARATUS FOR DRAWING A WIRE TIE THROUGH AND AROUND ANNULAR ARTICLES AND TWISTING THE ENDS TOGETHER l5 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed Aug. 10. 1950 Inventors."

kenmmlfiscmsso.

Patented Oct. 13, 19 53 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR DRAWING A WIRE TIE THROUGH AND AROUND ANNULAR ARTI- CLES AND TWISTING THE ENDS TO- GETHER Application August 10, 1950, Serial No. 178,702

27 Claims.

This invention relates to automatic bundle-tying machines and, in particular, to a machine for tying annular bundles such as a coil or bundle of wire, the ties for which must be threaded through the continuous ring form in which the bundle is disposed, and wrapped around the section thereof.

Several types of automatic machines are known for tying boxes, bundles and the like having generally the form of a right rectangular prism. Semi-automatic machines are also known for tying annular packages such as coils of strip or wire, but they require manual threading and looping of the tie. The practice of manually tying coils or bundles of wire for handling and shipment has continued to be universal in wire mills, nevertheless, despite the time and effort consumed thereby and the resulting high cost of the tying operation. It is accordingly the object of our invention to provide a fully automatic machine capable of quickly and eificiently performing the threading and tying operation on an annular coil of wire which is known in a wire mill as a bundle.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention,

we provide a bundle support and an openable rotatable wrapping ring adjacent thereto adapted to embrace the bundle when laid side down on the support. Manually initiated, automatically controlled means for driving the ring cause it when closed to carry the free end of a wire tie initially held by a gripper on the ring, through the bundle and around the section thereof, the tie being pulled from a continuous coil of wire. An automatic tensioning means is then brought into operation to tighten the tie and a twister head is advanced to seize the crossed overlapping ends of the portion of tie wire thus applied, shear them and twist the newly cut ends together. Thereafter a transfer gripper delivers the freshly cut end of the tie wire leading from the coil thereof to the gripper on the ring preparatory to the next cycle of operations.

Since the various mechanisms involved in our invention are relatively complex, the detailed description of the machine will be sub-divided into sections to facilitate a full understanding. There are several principal mechanisms which are treated in succeeding sections under the following subtitles:

I. The main frame and the elevator table for supporting bundles;

II. The split wrapping ring with its positioning bolt, gripper and drive;

III. The tensioning arm and stationary gripper;

IV. The twister head and its drive;

V. The transfer gripper; and

VI. The automatic control system.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description and explanation which refer to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment. In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus as a whole showing in dotted lines a bundle of wire thereon in position for the application of wire ties with parts omitted for clearness;

Figure 1A is a partial section taken along the plane of line IA-IA of Figure 1;

Figure 2 is a plan View with a part of the I bundle-supporting table broken out;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a portion of Figure 1 to enlarged scale;

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the parts shown in Figure 3, looking from the left;

Figure 5 is a plan of the view of the parts shown in Figure 3;

Figures 6 and 7 are transverse sections taken on the planes of lines VIVI and VII-VII, respectively, of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a vertical section through the apparatus taken on the plane of line VIIIVIII of Figure 2 (the plane of section is also similarly designated in Figure 5) Figure 9 is a partial plan view showing the gripper on the wrapping ring and a waste-end pull-out hook cooperating therewith;

Figure 10 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Figure 9 with a part in section;

Figure 11 is a partial end elevation of the parts shown in Figure 10 looking from the right;

Figures 12 and 13 correspond to Figures 9 and 10 but show the parts at a later stage of operaof their operating cycle;

Figure 18 is a section taken along the plane of line XVHI-XVIII of Figure 17 with parts in elevation;

Figure 19 is a side elevation of the stationary gripper and the gripper on the tensioning arm cooperating therewith;

Figure20 is Qanend elevationof the parts shown in Figure 19 looking from the left with a part removed;

Figure 21 is a view similar to Figure 20 showing the parts in a later stage .of operation; ,1

Figure 22 is a plan viewsuohgas wouldbe projected on the plane of line XXII XXII o'f Figure 21;

Figure 23 is an end view of the twister head;

Figure 24 is a partial sideeleyationthereof;

Figures 25 and 26 correspond to' Figu'res 2 3 and 24 but show a later stage of the operation thereof;

Figures 27 and 28 also correspond to Figures 23 and 24 but show a still further stage of their operation;

Figure 29 is a bottom plan view of the transfer gripper showing the reciprocating slide on which it is mounted; Figure 30 is a view similar to Figure '29 showing the parts in alternate positions; 7 V

Figure 31 is a plan view; showing the 'transiergripper slidef'and s cooperation with the tens1omng-arm-gripper; v V V Figure 32 is a side elevation thereof; Figure 33 is an end elevation such as would be projected on the plane of line XXXEII-XIQCIII ofFigure32; v ,7;

Figure 34 is a plan view of a single-revolution clutch and its'operating magnet'adapted to effect a predetermined cycleof perations at a particular Stage in he o r ll e i n eiig 1 Figure 3511s a side eleyation there fend Figure 36 is a circuit dilagramishowing'the electrical controlsystem of the machine. I. The main jr'mhejdhd 'eleiictor table (Fidit'res 1fa1zd2) h r I The 'apparatusof'our'invention is mounted on a frame It! including an upperdeck li, legs-12 and 'a lower deckjl3, fabricated from plate and structural shapes infany suitable manner. An

' elevator table 14 is'oarired'on the up'per'ends of four vertical rack bars I5. Thet'ablehas bearing balls M in: its upper surface arranged in iradial groups of rows, to"facilitate-spottingthe bundle properly thereon. The rack bars areslidableiin "bearings llisecured'to the upper deck H adjacent the corners of the table. Horizontal cross s'hafts 11 are journaled in'the front and'rear pairs of bearings l6 and each has'pinions 18 thereon meshing with one pair of the bars l5. Theshafts H are driven by a longitudinal shaft I9 journaled in bearings 19 secured to the lower surface of the upper deck ll. 'Shaft 19 has spaced worms (not numbered) thereon meshing with worm wheels'20, one on'eachsliaft f1.

Shaft l9 is 'drive'nby amotor 2| mountedon a bracket 22 secured to frame [0, through a chain-and-sprocket drive 23. Limit'switches '24 and 25 (omitted from Figure 1 for clearness) 'stop themotor when the table has reached the upper and lower extremities of its movement, shown in dotted and solid lines, respectively, infFigurel. The motor has astandard electro magneticibrake 2! with a drum "andspring-loaded'brakeshoe to ensure prompt stoppin -there t .1 :w table is in its uppermost or loading position and "te'r. fin their adjacent faces and the gear 3| has flanges switch 359. p isnormally's'ecured'to th'elower half by a'manuthe split wrapping ring (described in the next section) is opened, a bundle B may be easily placed thereon in position to be embraced by the ring on closing thereof. In this position the table is slightly above the ends of the lower half of the wrapping ring. The descent of the table to ritslowerrnost or tying position brings the bundle into proper position relative to the ring to have a wire tie wrapped around it after the split wrapping ring is closed. In this position the table is approximately tangent to the wrapping ring and operatesia third limit switch 26 mounted on deck .ll be'lov'v th -table (see Figures 2 and 8). II. Split ring with its positioning bolt, gripperanddrive (Figures 1, 1A, 2, 8 through mute 3 Table hash slot 21 extending inwardly from the rear'iedge to clear the wrapping ring indicated generally "at 28; which is carried on upper deck rill ofvthefr'am'e I ll.v The ring 28 comprises a pair of opposed guide rings 29 and 30 (see Figure 1A) and the wrapping ring proper in the form of a.

ring gear 3| rotatable therein, all of which are divided alonga plane through their common cen- Theguide rings have circular. grooves 32 33 cooperating therev'vith. vThe gear extends throughout 360 and 'is normally positioned so'its plane of separation coincides with that of the guide rings. t l

The lower halves'of the guide rings are bolted to "a vertical plate 3'4 upstanding on deck II, the

(upper edge of th'e plate having the shape of a. circular arc, Plate 34 is secured to deck H by ally releasable latch 38. The ring gea'rhas axial dovjel pins or keys 3:6 in the ends'of one halfvcooperating with -griiiovt'as in the ends of the other "half to insureproper-alignment when they are brought into engagement.

$incethering=gear3l is rotatable in the guide ringsyit'must hav'e 'its plane of separation acf curat'ely aligned with 'thatof the guide rings-in order 'topermit' opening of the ring'as a whole by tiltir'igthewalking beam to raise the. upper :half Tothisfend, we provide acentering blo'ck i l on'oneside of the 'gear'having a beveled notch in'th'e outer edge-thereof adapted to be engaged by jaf'radial"centering a'ne locking bolt '41, the

forward end of which-is shaped to conform to thenotch Thebolt is slidable in a guidefl'se- ;cured,to'p late A single-acting pneumatic cylinder m unted on the deck 'H has itspiston rod connected'to a bloclg 43' onithe outer end o! the bolt, Air admitted to the outerend of 'the cyl inde r normally urges the piston rod and. bolt to the positionsshown inFigure's i and'8. When it is'desired =to peri'nit rotation of the ringgear,

- the bolt is retractediby' releasing air from the out- -er end 'of the cylinder 43. A tension spring in the cylinderthereupon retracts the piston. When the gear has completed the desired number of revolutions, air is again supplied to the outer end of cylinder 43 to reset the bolt in locking position. The shape of the forward end of the bolt and the sides of the notch in block 49 causes the bolt to align the plane of division of the gear accurately with that of the guide rings in case the gear stops in a position of slight misalignment.

The ring gear 3| is driven by a motor 44 mounted on a bracket 54 secured to the rear side of the frame It). The motor drives a reduction gear 45 through a chain-and-sprocket drive 45. The reduction gear drives a cross-shaft 46 journaled in bearings 46 below the deck ll, through a chain-and-sprocket drive 46. Shaft 46 drives a shaft 41 journaled in bearings 46" upstanding on deck II, through a chain-and-sprocket drive 41. A single-revolution clutch 48 of known construction is mounted on shaft 41 and is controlled by a solenoid 49. The clutch 48 is shown to an enlarged scale in Figures 34 and 35. As there shown, the plunger 49 of the solenoid is pivotally connected to the restoring lever 48 of the clutch by a link 59* The restoring lever and a release and arresting lever 48 are pivoted on a common pin 58 mounted in a bracket on the clutch base. A pin 58 on lever 48- trips lever 48 when lever 43 is pulled out. A finger 48 on link 49 simultaneously operates a push switch 59 A finger 49 on lever 48 operates push switches 49 and 49 A plunger 49 pivoted to lever 48 operates a valve 49 The functions of these control devices will be explained later. The input end of the clutch 48 is driven continuously. The output end of the clutch has a gear 59 thereon. The clutch operates in the known manner to cause a single revolution of this gear when the lever 48 is pulled to the left by the solenoid. Gear 50 meshes with a pinion 5i) keyed on shaft 35 journaled in bearing post 31. A gear 5! keyed on the shaft 35 meshes with ring gear 3|. The ratios of the several gears and the pinion are such that gear 3| is driven through two revolutions for each revolution of gear 59-.

The ring gear 3! has a traveling gripper mounted thereon in the form of a block 52 (Figures 9 to 11) having a portion 52 overhanging the adjacent guide ring 39 and provided with a fixed jaw 53 projecting therefrom. A movable jaw 55 in the form of a toothed eccentric sector is pivoted on the end of the portion 52 for cooperation with the jaw 53 to seize the end of a tie wire 55 therebetween. The jaw 54 has an actuating pin 55 projecting from one edge thereof for a purpose which will appear later. On rotation of the gear 3|, the tie wire 55 is drawn from a coil thereof (not shown) through a guide tube 56 secured in the frame [0.

II. The tensioning arm and stationary holding gripper (Figures 1, 3, 8 and 19 through 22) The portion of wire 55 between the inner end of tube 55 and gripper 52 passes through a pullback gripper 51 carried on a pivoted tensioning arm 59' and a stationary holding gripper 59 mounted on the upper end of an interior frame 55. This frame is mounted in frame on a diagonal plate 55 secured to brackets 50* attached to the upper and lower decks II and I3. Gripper comprises a block 5'! pivoted between the bifurcated upper end of an arm 58 pivoted on a pin 58 in frame 59. The block 51 is normally held in the position shown in Figure 8, i. e., against stop pins 5| in the bifurcated end of has a passage 62 therethrough for the wire. Angularly-related recesses 62 intersecting the upper end of passage 62 accommodate cooperating spring-pressed toothed gripper jaws 63. The jaws are confined in their recesses by a cover plate 63 secured to block 51 The ends of these jaws are adapted to project above the upper face of block 5! when the latter is withdrawn from gripper 59, as shown in Figure 21, and thereby make gripping engagement with the wire. When the arm 58 is in the position shown in solid lines in Figure 8, however, the engagement of the upper ends of jaws 63 with the lower face of gripper 59 pushes the jaws downwardly in their recesses causing them to spread to the positions shown in Figure 20 thus freeing the wire for further feeding.

After the free end of wire 55 has been carried around bundle B on table l4, the tensioning arm 58 is pulled downwardly to the dotted line position shown in Figure 8, thus tightening the tie preliminar to cutting the two ends thereof and twisting them together. This down-tilting movement of the arm 58 is effected by a double-acting pneumatic cylinder 64 on deck l3, the piston rod 54 of which is connected to arm 59 by a link 54 From the explanation just given, it will be understood that the jaws 63 grip the wire for applying back tension thereto as soon as the block 5'! moves away from the gripper 59.

Stationary holding gripper 59 as shown in Figures 19 through 21 comprises a block 59 having a. shoulder 55 outstanding therefrom which serves; as a stationary jaw and a movable jaw 96 in the form of an eccentric toothed sector pivoted on. a screw 55 in the block cooperating with jaw' 65 to seize the wire 55, as clearly shown in Fig-- The jaw 65 is movable from gripping:

ure 20. position to the released position shown in Figure 21. It is held in one position or the other by a toggle including a pin 65 pivoted thereto and slidable in an eye 6'! at one end of block 59*. A helical spring 6! is compressed between the eye and the head of pin 65*. The jaw 56 is turned clockwise by a pin 68 indicated in Figure 21 adapted to engage a finger 65 rigid with the jaw. The mounting and travel of the pin will be more fully described later. The jaw is moved to the closed position shown in Figure 20 by a pin 59 having an inclined face $9 adapted to engage one side of a notch it in jaw 55. Pin 69 is mounted in a slide H reciprocable in ways formed on frame 69 as is shown in Figures 3, 4 and 8. 1

IV. The twister head and its drive (Figures 1, 3 through 8 and 23 through 28) The mechanism for cutting and twisting the ends of a wire tie wrapped around the bundle B and brought into crossed relation as shown in Figure 8 is mounted on the slide l l. A U-shaped twister head 12 is slidable in ways on a plate l l secured to slide TI. The head is split along a plane parallel to the slide and has spaced opposed outters l2 thereon. The mechanism for reciprocating the slide and operating the twister head is driven by a single-revolution clutch '13 similar to that shown at 48 and controlled by a solenoid vM pivotally connected to the restoring lever l3 thereof. The clutch 13 is journaled on a bearing post 14 and is driven from the reduction gear 45 by a chain-and-sprocket drive 15 The clutch l3 drives a shaft 15 (Figure 5) arm. 55 by a tension spring 6|. The block 51 7 through a chain-and-sprocket drive 15- and helical gears 16. The shaft 15 is .journaled in bearings carried by a post IB anda web 16 upstanding on plate .60. A side cam I! having a groove 71 in one side thereof is secured to shaft 15. A lever 18 (Figure 6 :pivoted at 18 on post 16* has a follower roller 18' extending into the groove H A gear sector 79 is pivoted for oscillationina plane parallel to that of plate 60 on a pin '19- secured to a bracket 19 mounted .on frame 60. Sector 19 has an operating arm 19' integral therewith extending at an angle thereto. A link 80 is pivoted to the lever 18 and arm ;1 9 and includes universal joints til and a turnbuckle for adjustment. Sector flg meshes with a rack bar 8| secured to slide H. Reciprocation of the latter is thus effected by oscillation of lever 18 which is determined by the-shape of the groove W in cam N. A gear 82 on shaft 35 drives a gear 93 through an idler pinion =82 journaled on a stub shaft fixed in web 15 Gear 82 has a cam ring 82 extending around about 330 of its circumference. This ring operates a switch 82 for a purpose which will appear later. A gear sector 84 journaled on astub shaft fl l also fixed on web 16 has a radial slot 84 The-gear 83 ha a crank pin 83 which'fits in slot'lit to cause oscillation of the-sector on-rotationof gear 83.

A twister spindle 85 (Figures 3, and -8) journaled in a bearing 85 mounted on :plate H and a bearing 85* secured to web 16 The spindle is free to slide-in the .latter bearing. An elongated pinion 85' meshes with sector 84, the length of the pinion being suihcient to maintain driving relation with the sector in all positions of the spindle. Athrust collar SE -ls pinned to spindle-85 so that the latter will move with bearing 85 on movement of slide 1 I. A coupling 85 on the opposite .side of bearing 85 from collar 85 also servesas a thrust bearing. Spindle 85 extends through a sleeve -86 rotatable in a bearing 85 in twister head i2, and is keyed thereto. The lower end of the sleeve extends beyond the bearing as at 86 andis threaded for cooperation with a nut in the formof a tapped huh BS secured tobearing .85. When slide His in-retracted position, the threaded end of sleeve 86 is turned nearly homein the hub, but not quite. When the-slideis advanced, the sleeve is screwed partially out of the hub as the spindle-is turned backwardly preparatory to twisting together the ends of the tie Prior to the retraction of the slide "H (as will be later explained) the screwing of the sleeve into the hub causes a slight initial axial movement of head 12 on slide H This-moves the head 12 away from the bundle as the twist isfor-medandcauses the twister grippers next to be described, to approach each other as the'wire ends are used up in the twist.

Opposed parallel wings '81 extend laterally from the upper end of spindle 85 (Figures 2.3 and 24). E'achwing has a slot 81 inclined toithe axis of the spindle. A block W is slidable'a'long the slot'in each wing'but non-rotatable there on. Each block has ajjaw 3 atthe outer .end. A movable jaw in the form of a toothedeccentric sector 81* is pivoted adjacent each jaw '81 for cooperation therewith. ThejaWs SI are .constantly urged toward closed position by small torsion springs (not shown) Both j aws .81 and Bi -have theirexposed faces beveled so that as the grippers approach a tensioned tie-wire end on reversalof spindleiaii, the jaws-81 areeforced to "turn so as'to move away from jaws '81, to

permit entry of the wire end after which it is firmly held betweenthe jaws. The .outer edges of the blocks cooperate with cutters 1 2 in a manner to be described later, to shear the crossed ends of wire tie 55 after they have been seized by'the grippers constituted by jaws 81' and -81. Blocks 81 are connected to sleeve 86 by pivoted links 8'l and are thus actuated in slots 81 by relative axial movement between the sleeve and spindle '85, caused by the rotation of the sleeve in hubtfi'. When the blocks-have reached their innermost positions, jaws .BI are opened by pins A waste-end retractor hook 88 .is mounted on top of head T.2,-as more clearly shown in Figures 9 through 13, to pullout the free upper end of the tie after it has been cutoff. The hook cooperates with a slot 12 in the end of the upper portion of the head. The hook is pivoted onthe head by a screw 813 and has a raised beveled forward edge 88 which strikes pin 5t on jaw '54 of gripper 52 when the head is advanced, thus tilting the hook as shown in'Figure 12, to cause it to engage the tie end with its inner edge 88* and hold the end in slot 12 as shown in Figures 16 and 17. The hook 88 also has a'cam surface 88' which, on the return of slide H engages pin 54 of jaw 54, thus tilting it to released position and permitting withdrawal of the waste end of the wire tie by the hook. :On retraction of the slide ll, the waste end drops into a chute 12 (Figure 1).

V. The transfer gripper (Figures .1, 29 and 30) *A slide 89 is reciprocable in ways formed in a guide plate 89 by an arm 89 pivoted on deck l3. -A connecting link 89* between the arm'and slide includes a universaljoint at each end. Plate :89 is normal to plate 50 and when slide is retracted, its upper end is adjacent gripper 59. Arm 89 is actuated by a single-revolutionclutch 30 including a disc 9!] having a crank pin cooperating with a longitudinal slot in the arm. "The clutch 90 is similar to those shown at 48 and 13. It is driven from shaft 46 through a chain-andsprocket drive 90 and is controlled by asolenoid -90"'in the same manner as clutches 48 and 13.

As shown in Figures 29 andBO, slide 89 has a recess at its upper end in which is mounteda pivoted gripper jaw 91 cooperating with a fixed jaw 91 The *jaw 9! is urged toward the jaw SI by a spring Bi on a pull rod 9| working'in'a slot -9 l in the under surface of the slide. The-spring bears on a disc 9l fixed in the slot, having a'hole therein for the rod. The pull rod is securedto one .end of a bell crank 92 pivoted to the slide. The other end of the crank has a follower '92 riding in a groove 82 and a parallel groove 93 communicating therewith at its ends. Spring closed switches 93 ands? divert the follower from groove 92 to groove -93 on the ascending stroke and vice versa on the descending stroke. The resulting tilting of crank 92 controls the movementofjaw ill. After the completion of a tie the transfer gripper servesin a mannerto be explained more fully later, to seize the freshly cut .end of theitie wire held'by gripper 59, :carry it upward-toward gripper 52 and insert it between the .fixedand movable jaws 53 and 54 thereof.

Slide 89 also-serves toactuategripper 66, pin (Figure 21) being mounted on the under surface of the slide-as-shown in Figures 29 and 30. When the tie 55 is tightened, grippertGis moved 'by pin 89 on slide H from the positionshown in Figure 21 to that shown in Figure 20, to hold the tie under tension during twisting of the ends. After the tie ends have been out and twisted together, gripper 66 must be restored to the position of Figure 21 to permit the transfer gripper 9! to carry the freshly cut end of the tie wire from the coil thereof to the wrapping-ring gripper 52. This is effected by pin 65, as best shown in Figures 21 and 31 through 33. The tensioning gripper 59 is at a small angle to the line of travel of slide 89. The wire end protruding from gripper 59 is thus in position to be seized by transfer gripper 9| as it moves from open to closed position on passage of follower 92 from groove 92'" into groove 93, as slide 89 moves upward. Just before gripper 9i closes, pin 68 strikes the tip of finger 66 and opens gripper 56. Pin 68 is undercut as shown at 68 (Figure 33) The pin thus clears the finger on retraction of the slide because, as a result of the angle between the slide and gripper 59, after actuation of the finger 66 to the dotted-line position of Figure 33, its tip is in line with the deepest portion of the undercut 68 (nearest slide Gil) instead of with the extremity of the pin as when in the solid-line position, where the undercut is a minimum.

VI. The automatic control system The complete cycle of operations of the machine described above will be explained in connection with the description of the automatic control system shown in Figure 36. Several of the elements thereof have already been referred to in describing the machine and are designated by the numerals previously employed. The additional elements of the system are conventional switches, contactors, relays, etc. Electric power for the motors 2i and 44 is supplied from a threephase line 94 through the usual disconnect switch 94 A reversing contactor controlling motor 2| has two sets of contacts 95 and 95 and forward and reverse operating coils 95 and 95 for closing the contacts of the two sets, respectively. A contactor controlling motor 44 has contacts 96 and an operating coil 96 A control bus 91 91 is energized from line 94 by a step-down transformer 9'! through a disconnect switch 91 Manual start and stop buttons 98* and 98 control contactor coil 95. When the coil is energized by pressing button 98 contacts 96 are closed and also an auxiliary contact 96 shunting the contacts of button 98 to hold the coil continuously energized until stop button 98 is pressed to open its normally closed contacts. Coils 96, 95 and 95 are energized from one phase of line 94.

The following description of a complete cycle of operations assumes that, at start, the table I 4 is in uppermost position, the wrapping ring 28 is open, a wire-bundle B is on the table, the main line switch 94 is closed and the start-stop button 98 has been actuated to start the tying motor 44. Auxiliary control relays, not yet referred to, will be mentioned in the order of their operation. These control relays are designated by capital letters in Figure 36 and the contacts actuated thereby are indicated by the same letters with prime marks aflixed. Clutches I3 and 9!) have switches corresponding to switches 48, 49 and 49 of clutch 43 but they have not been mentioned previously. They are therefore designated by letters in Figure 36.

With the table 14 in its uppermost position and the wrapping ring 28 open, the contacts of wrapping-ring cam switch 35 are closed and the contacts of the upper table limit switch 24 are open, while the contacts of the ring cam switch 35 are open and the contacts of lower table limit switch 25 are closed. The contacts of the second or safety lower table limit switch 26 are open.

I The closing of the wrapping ring causes cam switch 35 to close its contacts. Since the contacts of lower table limit switch 25 are closed, this causes operating coil 95 to be energized thus starting the table motor 25 and lowering the table. The table descends until it strikes the lower limit switch 25 opening its contacts which in turn open the circuit of coil 95 thus stopping the table motor 2|. The solenoid-operated brake 2| on the table motor stops the table at the correct operating position. The lowering of the table to its wrapping position also actuates the second lower table limit switch 26 and closes its contacts. With the table in its lowermost position and the contacts of switches 26 and 35 in the circuit of control relay G closed, the tying operation can be started by pressing a push button 99. A resetting time-delay relay P will have been previously de-energized so that its back contacts P have been closed leaving the entire control circuit in the normal or starting position as shown in Figure 36. Contacts 26 and 35 being closed, the pressing of startin button as will energize control relay G which will seal in through contacts P" and G, the latter being front contacts of relay G.

Solenoids 14 and 9!! are de-energized so their contacts L and M (corresponding to switch 48 of solenoid 49) are closed. Relay H remains de-energized so its back contact H" is closed. Thus the closing of contact G" by energization of relay G will close the circuit of solenoid 49. This actuates clutch 48 which drives the wrapping ring 28 through gear 50, pinion 55 and gear 5!, whereby gripper 52 draws two wraps of tie wire 55 around the bundle after which the clutch stops itself. Energization of solenoid 49 opens the contacts of switches 49 and 43 thus preventing energization of solenoids l4 and during operation of clutch 48. Energization of solenoid 49 also closes switch 48 which energizes control relay H. This relay seals in through its front contact H and opens the circuit of solenoid 49 at contact H", preventin further operation of clutch 48. On completion of the wire wrapping effected by ring 35, clutch 48 is restored to normal and contacts 49 and 49 are closed. Relay H being energized closes contact H3 and energizes a time-delay relay N which closes its contacts N after a predetermined time lapse. This energizes solenoid 14 of clutch 13, since switch 49 and switch M operated by solenoids 49 and are closed as well as contacts I of relay I which is still de-energized.

, The energization of solenoid l4 closes contacts U of a switch corresponding to switch 48 and also opens contacts L and L" corresponding to switches 49 and. 49 to prevent energization of solenoids 49 and 95. Clutch 73, through gears 16 drives shaft 15 thus operating crank 19 and sector gear 84. The start position of gear 84 is shown in chain lines in Figure 7. The crank, by virtue of the longer inclined portion of the cam groove H advances slide H while the gear drives spindle 85 in the reverse of wire-twisting operation. As soon as shaft l5 starts to turn, switch 82 is actuated by cam 32 and completes the circuit of solenoid W which controls the valve of air cylinder 64. Arm 53 is thereby pulled down to tighten the tie wire (see Figures 3 and 8) and the tension applied is maintained until the wire is seized by grippers 81 and sheared. 

